Bruce Lehrmann ordered to appear in Hobart court on driving charges
Bruce Lehrmann has suffered another blow after being ordered to get to a Hobart court immediately, where he is facing driving charges.
Bruce Lehrmann has been ordered to get to court after an application to appear by phone was denied.
Mr Lehrmann, who on Wednesday suffered a bruising loss in the federal court when his appeal in a defamation suit that branded him a rapist failed, was due in Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday on a charge of driving a Toyota Prado without the consent of its owner.
It’s alleged the offence took place in Mountain River about half an hour west of Hobart.
Magistrate Robert Webster asked Mr Lehrmann’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, why her client was not present.
Ms Burrows tendered documents she said supported an application for Mr Lehrmann to appear by phone.
However, Magistrate Webster refused the application and Ms Burrows left the courtroom to attempt to make contact with her client.
Mr Lehrmann is expected to face a contest mention in relation to the driving charges when he arrives, however Magistrate Webster has issued a suppression order in relation to the proceedings.
The contest mention proceeding is a Tasmanian process which allows people to have a frank discussion with a Magistrate about the strength of the prosecution’s case – before it goes to a hearing.
Magistrate Webster said having the media publish details of what was said had the potential to prejudice any future hearing of the matter.
More to come
Originally published as Bruce Lehrmann ordered to appear in Hobart court on driving charges
